Ribbon-type parachute canopy



ug 29, 1950 R. T. DAwEs RIBBpN-TYPE PARACHUTE cANoPY Patented Aug. 29, 1950 iJN l TED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIBBON-TYPETARACHUTEcANoPY Robert T. Dawes, Hudson, Mass. Application september?, 194s; seriarNo.-41,441

VThis invention pertains to parachutes and more especiallyto an improved parachute canopy" of the ribbon type.

As compared with the conventional parachute 1 surface of a sphere. 'Each ribbon is inclined at` canopy, the ribbon-type canopy has certain advantages, in particular its relatively slow opening with consequent less shock to the aviator.

The useful eiect of a parachute depends upon 8 lclalims. I(Cl. 244-,145)

an ang-le to the radius of the large central vent opening and this angle may `vary `in different` site but equal `angles with referenceto .a radius the establishment of a suitable unit air pressure against its inner surface resultant from the relative velocity of the canopy and the ambient air. rIhus, in order to insure a safe velocity of descent (after the liberated parachute and aviator have assumed the normal descent position in which the axis of the canopy is approximately Vertical), it is necessary thatthe canopy have a very extended surface when fully open, for `in stance, the customary canopy is of the order of twenty-eight feet in diameter. However, when a parachute is launched from a rapidly moving airplane, the opening of the canopy is not resultant from vertical drop but is almost entirely the result of the high horizontal component of its velocity. At present airplane speeds (approximating the velocity `of sound), this hori- Zontal component of velocity, at the instant the parachute is launched, far exceeds the safe velocity of descent (established in `accordance with C. A. A. regulations at twenty-one feet per second) so that the conventional canopy, designed to insure a safe velocity of descent, experiences a terrific total pressure force at the instant `of opening and, even if strong enoughto resist Ithis bursting pressure, subjects the aviator to a sudden shock such as may cause serious injury or even death.

The ribbon-type `canopy was developed `with the object of lessening the total pressure on the canopy at the instant of opening, thus reducing shock to the aviator. With this in view, the ribbon-type cano-py is provided (in addition to the usual large central vent opening) with a multitude of relatively small, narrow `vent openl lThe opy, the center line of each ribbon or tape (asi suming the fully opened canopy to be of` "spl'ieri-4 cal curvature) defining a circular :arc on the of the central venttopening, and adjacent ribbons on each seriesi` diverge from the margin of the central vent/opening toward the periphery of the canopy so that thespacelbetweenthe edges i of adjacent ribbons gradually increases in width. Since the ribbons `are of substantial width, for example threeinches, there is` an overlapping `of theuribbons Lthroughout a zone` surrounding` the centralventopening. Within this zone the Whensuch Lanribbon `parachute is launched,

sufficient unit pressure is at once built up. against the substantially iinperforate` Zone ofthe canopy toinitiate opening, `but fsincethe major portion of the canopycontainsa multitude of narrow.

'vent openingsorcreliefports (between adjacent ribbons), the totaleffective` pressure upon the` canopy `is `muchless than though` the canopy were of` `the usual Aimperforate type and thus opening is `ver;r `substantially slowed down and;` l

shock to the aviaton` is lessened.

The velocity ofnormal `.descent is a function of. the effective area of ,their canopy andof the.` l force `of gravity, but in the ribbomtype para-y lchutethe effective area at full ,opening` isless than thatatsomeydegree ,oilpartial opening because theauxiliaryescape ports become narrower as the effective periphery of ythe canopy contracts. i

During normaldescentthe forces tending to expandwandqtotoontract theoanopy become ba1- anced,.\but asithe weightnot the aviator provides the only efective'force ion .coliapsing thezbanopy,

The shrouds, of Whatever `.typeemployem the canopy remains extended to a degree such that the auxiliary ports are still quite eiective. The result is that the velocity of descent is higher than is safe. Obviously, any attempt at avoiding this result by decreasing the aggregate area of the auxiliary ports at full opening would defeat the purpose of the ribbon-type canopy, to wit, to lessen total pressure atthe moment of launching."

Thus, although the ribbon canopy lessens shock in opening, it is unsatisfactory in respect to the velocity of normal descent, for, as commonly constructed, the velocity of descent of the ribbon parachute is in the neighborhood of thirty feet per second, as compared with what is regarded the safe velocity of twenty-one feet per second.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a ribbon-type parachute canopy having the desirable characteristics of slow opening but Whose maximum velocity, during normal descent, will not substantially exceed twentyone feet, per second. A further object is to provide a ribbon-type parachute canopy which contracts in effective diameter during normal descent to a greater degree than would result from the weight of the aviator alone. A further object is to provide a ribbon-type parachute canopy whose auxiliary vent ports are automatically reduced in size during normal descent to a degree suicient to insure a safe velocity. A further object is to provide a ribbon-type parachute canopy including elastically contractible elements so arranged as, during normal descent. to contract the canopy sufficiently to insure a safe velocity of descent. Other and further ob- Iiects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a small scale elevation of a parachute in the position of normalV descent .and having a canopy which embodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 is afragmentary' plan view, to larger scale, of a canopy of ribbon type showing it fully extended, the canopy embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section, substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, to larger scale, illustrating the mode of securing the elastic hooks to the canopy ribbons; and

Fig. 4 `is a fragmentary vertical section, to

larger scale than Fig. 2, in a radial plane through the ring which defines` the marginof the central vent aperture.

Referring to the drawings, C indicates the canopy of a parachute having shrouds S. This canopy is of the ribbon type and may differ from the conventional ribbon-type canopy onlyin the specific particulars hereinafter pointed out.

Thus, as here illustrated, the canopy comprises a ring lof appropriate material, for example, rope or strong, textile fabric, whichr defines the margin of the large central vent opening 2. The canopyalso comprises upper and lower series of ribbons 3 and 4, respectively, which radiate from the ring l. Preferably, though not necessarily, a ribbon of each series is formed `from a single length of material whose midportion bends about the ring I, the end portions extending from the ring to the peripheral edge of the canopy. Whether or not the ribbons 3 and 4 are portions of a single length of material, the inner ends of the ribbons of both series are'rmly secured to the ring l in any appropriate way, for example, by stitching. As illustrated,theribbons 3 and 4 do not lie in radial planes of the canopy but each is inclined to a radius, such as the radius O-R (Fig. 2) so as to make angles A with such a radius. The ribbons of the series 3 are here shown as inclining in an anti-clockwise direction, while those of the series 4 incline in a clockwise direction. The angle A between any given ribbon 3 and the corresponding radius O-R equals the angle made by the corresponding ribbon 4 of the other series, as shown in Fig. 2. The angles A may vary with the particular parachute.

The ribbons of the series 3 and 4 are of substantial width, for example, of the order of three inches, and due to the manner in which they are inclined with respect to radii of the canopy, they overlap in a Zone adjacent to the Vent opening 2. As the angle A approaches 90, this overlap may extend outwardly from the ring l through a zone of substantial width, for example, a zone which would subtend an arc of 66 or more at the center of the spherical surface dened by the canopy. However, throughout the major portion of the canopy, adjacent ribbons of each series are spaced apart, the ribbons diverging from the ring l toward the peripheral edge of the canopy, thus providing a multitude of auxiliary escape passages 5 of various shapes, but in general elongate in radial direction.

While the ribbons 3 and 4 have been described as constituting upper and lower series, this mode of designation has been adopted merely for convenience in description since the ribbons 3 may be interwoven or otherwise concatenated with the ribbons 4.

In order to hold the ribbons properly related, a series of lhoops 6 is provided. rhese hoops are disposed concentrically with reference to the ring i and are spaced apart radially. As illustrated, the spacing of the hoops may be progressively greater from the ring I toward the peripheral edge of the canopy. The outermost hoop M of these hoops (Fig. l) may provide anchorage means for the upper ends of the shrouds S. Customarily these hoops 6 are of some flexible material which is substantially inexpansible, for example, of strong, woven textile fabric and of such normal diameters as t0 permit the canopy to expand fully in response to the air pressure at the moment of opening.

In accordance with the present invention, the hoops 6, instead of being made of substantially mextensible material, are of a construction such that they are highly elastic and capable of great elongation as compared with their normal lengths. For example, such a material may be a tubular textile braid enclosing a core of rubber elastic threads. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the hoop S is made of a tubular, stretchable braid B which encloses several rubber threads T. This braid, with its rubber elastic core, may be made in any desired and customary manner and with a ratio of stretch which may be of the order of one to five, for example. The elastic core must be of such strength as to withstand the stresses to which it is subjected during the descent of the parachute.

These hoops 6 are secured to the ribbons 3 and 4 where they cross the latter, for example, by stitching l, and, in securing them to the ribbons 3V and 4, the elastic hoops are stretched and How-*t ever,`y after they have been .attached to the ribbons 3 and 4, these elastically stretchable hoops contract, thus exerting a powerful contractinty force tending to close the auxiliary passages 5 in the canopy.

With this arrangement, When the parachute is rst launched, the internal air pressure extends the canopy in opposition to the elastic contractile force exerted by the hoop 6 to substantially the same extent as though the hoops were of conventional type, but as soon as the parachute assumes the normal position of descent the con'- tractile force of the hoops 6, coupled with the weight of the aviator, effectively decreases the peripheral extent of the canopy, thus narrowing the auxiliary apertures. By designing the parachute so that in this partially closed position it provides the requisite area to insure a safe descent, at a velocity not exceeding 21 ft. per second, the parachute becomes effective for its intended purpose, while at the same time so lessening the total effective pressure at the moment of launching so as to reduce the shock to the aviator to a degree such that it is not injurious. Thus, by the simple expedient of making the hoops E of elastic material, the parachute becomes automatic in its response to the pressures which act upon it at different times, exposing a relatively small eiective area at the instant of launching but exposing a suflicient area during normal descent to provide the de sired support and a safe velocity of descent.

While one desirable embodiment of the irl-- vention has herein been illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is inclusive of any and al1 modications, including substitutions of materials and relative arrangements of parts, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A ribbon-type parachute comprising a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a large central vent opening and providing between them relatively small auxiliary vent openings or ports, the vent openings or ports being of progressively increasing size from the margin of the central vent opening to the periphery of the canopy, and means tending to contract said auxiliary vent openings or ports during normal descent to an amount greater than would result solely from the contraction of the canopy by the Weight of the aviator.

2. A ribbon-type parachute comprising a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a central vent opening and providing between them a multitude of auxiliary vent openings or ports, the vent openings or ports being of progressively increasing size from the margin of the central vent opening to the periphery of the canopy, and means acting upon the canopy intermediate the central vent opening and the periphery of the canopy normally tending to contract the auxiliary vent openings or ports.

3. A parachute canopy having a large central vent opening, the material of the canopy being substantially imperforate throughout a zone adjacent to the central vent opening but having a multitude of relatively small auxiliary vent openings distributed substantially uniformly throughout the major part of its area, the auxiliary vent openings being of progressively increasing size from the margin of the large central vent opening toward the periphery of the canopy, and elastically contractile means acting upon the canopy intermediate its large central vent opening and its periphery tending to collapse the canopy and thereby to decrease the effective size of the .auxiliary vent openings.

4. A parachute canopy having a large central vent opening and a multitude of relatively small auxiliary vent openings distributed over the major portion of the canopy, a series of elastic ally contractile hoops, coaxial with the central vent opening, said hoops being spaced apart by progressively greater distances from the central vent opening toward the outer edge of the canopy, means securing each hoop to the material of the canopy, the hoops being so designed as to tend to contract the canopy to less than its maximum diameter, the eiective area of the partially contracted canopy, during normal descent, being suiiicient to insure a safe velocity oi' descent.

5. A ribbon-type parachute canopy comprisingJ a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a central vent opening and providing between them a multitude of auxiliary vent openings or ports, and a plurality of hoops concentric with the central vent opening, said hoops being spaced apart from each other, and means uniting each hoop to the constituent ribbons of the canopy, said hoops being of flexible, elastically contractible material and tending to contract the canopy.

6. A ribbon-type parachute canopy comprising a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a central vent opening and providing between them auxiliary vent openings or ports, and hoops concentric with the central vent opening, the hoops being spaced apart from each other and being secured to the constituent ribbons of the canopy where they cross said ribbons, the hoops being oi exible, highly elastic material, and, in the fully extended canopy, being substantially elongated and exerting elastic force tending to collapse the canopy.

'7. A ribbon-type parachute canopy comprising a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a central vent opening, and a plurality of concentric hoops spaced apart and coaxial with the vent opening, and means uniting the several hoops to the ribbons Where they cross the latter, each hoop being of elastically stretchable material and of such normal diameter that when the canopy is fully open said hoops are stretched to greater than normal diameter.

8. A ribbon-type parachute canopy comprising a multitude of ribbons radiating from the margin of a central vent opening, a plurality of concentric hoops spaced apart and coaxial with the vent opening, and means uniting each hoop to the ribbons at the crossing points, each hoop consisting of a stretchable textile tube enclosing a rubber-elastic core, the normal diameter of each hoop being such that when the canopy is fully open the core of the hoop is elongated and exerts a contractile force tending to collapse the canopy.

ROBERT T. DAWES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,743,951 Avorio Jan. 14, 1930 2,450,926 Weinig Oct. 12, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 827,528 France Jan. 28, 1938 

